Then, monks, this occurred to me: ‘To whom should I first teach the Dhamma? Who will be able to understand the Dhamma quickly?’

Then, monks, this occurred to me: ‘This Āḷāra Kālāma is wise, learned, intelligent, for a long time he has been one with little dust on his eyes. Now what if I first teach the Dhamma to Āḷāra Kālāma? He will be able to understand the Dhamma quickly.’

Then a god, monks, having approached, said this to me: “Āḷāra Kālāma died seven days ago, reverend Sir,” and to me knowledge and insight arose: “Āḷāra Kālāma died seven days ago.”

Then, monks, this occurred to me: ‘Āḷāra Kālāma had great understanding, if he had heard this Dhamma he would have understood it quickly.’

Then, monks, this occurred to me: ‘To whom should I first teach the Dhamma? Who will be able to understand the Dhamma quickly?’

Then, monks, this occurred to me: ‘This Uddaka Rāmaputta is wise, learned, intelligent, for a long time he has been one with little dust on his eyes. Now, what if I first teach the Dhamma to Uddaka Rāmaputta? He will be able to understand the Dhamma quickly.’

Then, monks, a god having approached, said this to me: “Uddaka Rāmaputta died yesterday evening, reverend Sir,” and to me knowledge and insight arose: “Uddaka Rāmaputta died yesterday evening.”

Then, monks, this occurred to me: ‘Uddaka Rāmaputta had great understanding, if he had heard this Dhamma he would have understood it quickly.’

Then, monks, this occurred to me: ‘To whom should I first teach the Dhamma? Who will be able to understand the Dhamma quickly?’

Then, monks, this occurred to me: ‘The group-of-five monks were very helpful to me, they attended on me when I was striving resolutely. Now, what if I first teach the Dhamma to the group-of-five monks?’

Then, monks, this occurred to me: ‘Where are the group-of-five monks dwelling right now?’

I saw with the divine eye, monks, which is purified and surpasses that of normal men, that the group-of-five monks were dwelling near Bārāṇasī, in the Deer Park at Isipatana.